Two severe enterovirus cases reported

By Alison Hsiao / Staff reporter

Thu, Jul 18, 2013 - Page 3

Two cases of severe enterovirus infection have been reported, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said on Tuesday.

A newborn started to experience symptoms of fever, reduced activity, developed cyanosis, sepsis, a blood coagulation abnormality and internal bleeding four days after he was born and was later confirmed to be infected with E-30, an enterovirus that caused extensive outbreaks of aseptic meningitis in the nation in 1988 and 1993, CDC physician Liu Yu-lun (劉宇倫) said.

“In 2001, two newborns were infected with E-30 and only one survived. The surviving neonate was found to have no obvious sequelae during follow-up checks,” Liu said.

Although E-30 is relatively rare in the nation, the virus, together with Coxsackie B virus, can cause life-threatening complications in infants of which neonatal sepsis is the most common, Liu said.

The source of the infection in the latest case is unknown since the mother, despite having fever, has tested negative for E-30, he said.

“The eight healthcare providers having had contact and the four newborns in the same room with the baby have not developed suspicious symptoms,” Liu said.

“It is highly possible that the virus-carrier was one of the visitors visiting the baby,” he added.

He advised adults, who may have been infected with enteroviruses but show no symptoms, to take heed of personal hygiene before coming into contact with infants and children who are particularly vulnerable to the virus.

While the infant with the E-30 infection is still under treatment, the five-year-old infected with EV-71 at the beginning of this month who developed symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease, and experienced fever and myoclonic jerk has since recovered and been discharged, the CDC said.